Dentistry bite or prop block

ABSTRACT

A disposable bite or prop block for retaining the mouth open for use in dentistry is made from a non-elastic foam plastic material into which the cusps on the bicuspid and molar teeth at one side of the mouth can indent to prop open the mouth and provide a fixed cavity in which dental work can be performed. The patient rests his teeth at one side of the mouth on the block to permit the teeth on the opposite side to be worked on freely in the large cavity provided. The block or prop is constructed to have different cross sectional dimensions so that the mouth can be retained opened to different degrees without fatigue to the jaw muscles.

United States Patent 1191 Via, Jr. Mar. 27, 1973 DENTISTRY BITE OR PROP BLOCK [76] Inventor: William F. Via, Jr., P. 0. Box 2006, -E pesimk Chapel Hill, NC. 27514 Attorney-Harness, Dickey & Pierce [22] Filed: Mar. 1, 1971 [57 ABSTRACT [21] APPl- 1192717 A disposable bite or prop block for retaining the mouth open for use in dentistry is made from a non- 52 us. (:1. ..32/40 R, 128/12 elastic foam plastic material into which the cusps on 51 Int. Cl ..A61c 3/00 the bicuspid and molar teeth at one side of the mouth 58 Field of Search .;12s/12; 32/40, 36, 34, 19 can indent to p p p the mwth and Provide a fixed cavity in which dental work can be performed. [56] References Cit d The patient rests his teeth at one side of the mouth on the block to permit the teeth on the opposite side to UNITED STATES PATENTS be worked on freely in the large cavity provided. The 527,235 10/1894 block or prop is constructed to have difierent cross 3,399,457 9/1968 sectional dimensions so that the mouth can be 2,220,674 11/1940 retained opened to difierent degrees without fatigue to 3,483,619 12/1969 the jaw muscles. 1,081,296 l2/l9l3 2,023,288 12 1935 7 Claims, 5 Drawing fi ures DENTISTRY BITE OR PROP BLOCK SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to a bite block in the nature of a mouth prop which when secured by the teeth on one side of the mouth maintains the upper and lower teeth on the opposite or working side separated in predetermined spaced relation to each other. The block is made from the non-elastic foam material which retains its shape and permits the cusps of the teeth to indent thereinto to fix the block in position between the upper and lower bicuspid and molar teeth at one side of the mouth. The block provides comfort for the patient and a steady base upon which the dental work can be performed which is expedited by the fixed opening and the use of a continuous high-flow suction tube. The tube is used by an assistant to free the mouth of the collecting saliva, debris and wash spray which permits the work to be completed in a shorter time without interruption. The block has a thickness of approximately the width of a molar tooth and of diverging shape from the back to the forward edge providing at least two different lengths across different sections to prop the mouth open different amounts.

The material is preferably a non-toxic foamable plastic that has similar identity and properties to that of Dylite supplied by the Sinclair Koppers Company. Such materials would be polyurathane, foamed polyethylene, foamed epoxy and the like. When the teeth indent into the foam plastic material, the block is locked in place against any slippage and is disposable after use. The material of the block is preferably white so that it will reflect the light directed into the oral cavity making it easier to see within the working area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a'set of upper and lower teeth propped open by a block embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 2-2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the block illustrated between the teeth of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3, showing another form thereof, and

FIG. 5 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4, showing a further form of the block.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As the new turbine equipment has come into promise and as the high flow suction devices are used in what is called four-handed dentistry, more dentistry operations can be carried out in a much shorter period of time. With the use of such technique the patients mouth can be propped open a desired amount by the degree of insertion or by turning the block so that the work can be performed without interruption, thus increasing efficiency and reducing the consumed time.

In FIG. 3, a bite or prop block 11 is illustrated as being of polygonal shape having four sides 12, 13, 14 and of different lengths with the sides 13 and 15 diverging from the back to the front the same as the sides 12 and 14 when the block is rotated 90 counterclockwise, as illustrated in dot and dash line in FIG. 1.

The alternate opposite corners formed by the sides are disposed at obtuse and acute angles. In the block illustrated in FIG. 3, the sides vary from approximately inch to l k inches and are approximately inch thick so that the cross-sectional dimensions between the sides 13 and 15 is less than that between the sides 12 and 14. The sides 13 and 15 converge to form an angle which is substantially equal to the angle formed by the converging sides 12 and 14.

When disposed in the mouth, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper teeth 16 are separated from the lower teeth 17 a smaller amount than that resulting when the block is rotated to the position illustrated in dot and dash line. As illustrated in FIG. 2, it will be noted that the cusps have indented into the material along the edges 13 and 15 which provides comfort for the patient while firmly fixing the block between the teeth against movement. This provides a fixed enlarged oral cavity in which the dentist performs his work and, since the saliva, debris and wash spray are removed as it collects, the work can proceed to the end without interruption.

Another form of block is illustrated in FIG. 4 which embodies circular portions 21 and 22 with the portions indented at the ends at the points 23 and 24. The tangents to the curved portions along the sides fall on the lines or sides 12 to 15 of FIG. 3 so-that the proportions thereof obtain for the block of FIG. 4. This produces the different degrees of opening to the mouth when used in the position illustrated in FIG. 4 and in a position at right angle thereto. When the teeth indent into the projecting portion of the block in either position, it is stably held between the teeth to prop the mouth open at the degree desired requiring less applied force than that for the block of FIG. 3. An aperture 25 extends through the block near the center which is desirable to permit a cord to be tied to the block to simplify its removal or to have two blocks attached to the ends of a cord so that a second block is at all times present during surgery when the patient is under anesthesia.

In FIG. 5, a block 26 is illustrated having arcuate portions 27 at the corners and arcuate sections 28 between the corner portions at the longer sides. The arcuate portions and sections are struck on the same radius from lines located on a contained FIG. 29 following the shape of the block of FIG. 3. This locates the tangents to the arcuate portions and sections on lines which will fall upon the lines or sides 13 to 15 of the block of FIG. 3. The arcuate portions and sections reduce the surface to be indented and provide at least two contact points on each side for stability. The arcuate portions eliminate the blunt corners between the sides of the block of FIG. 3 which could also be of greater arcuate form.

Iclaim:

1. In a dentistry bite block for propping open the mouth of a patient, a prop unit made from a non-elastic foam material into the edges of which the upper and lower teeth at one side of the mouth can indent for retaining the upper and lower teeth at the opposite or working side of the mouth in fixed spaced relation, the block being so shaped as to have different cross sectional dimensions across pairs of opposite sloping edges each pair of which converge to the rear when the block is in the mouth to obtain different degrees of opening thereto.

wherein opposite sides when extended form substantially the same angle.

6. In a dentistry bite block as recited in claim 5, wherein the sides are undulated with the tangents thereto at opposite sides converging to form the angles of substantially the same degrees.

7. In a dentistry bite block as recited in claim 6, wherein said undulations are of arcuate form struck from substantially the same radius. 

1. In a dentistry bite block for propping open the mouth of a patient, a prop unit made from a non-elastic foam material into the edges of which the upper and lower teeth at one side of the mouth can indent for retaining the upper and lower teeth at the opposite or working side of the mouth in fixed spaced relation, the block being so shaped as to have different cross sectional dimensions across pairs of opposite sloping edges each pair of which converge to the rear when the block is in the mouth to obtain different degrees of opening thereto.
 2. In a dentistry bite block as recited in claim 1, wherein the block is of polygonal shape having four sides of different lengths.
 3. In a dentistry bite block as recited in claim 2, wherein two adjacent sides diverGe to longer opposite adjacent diverging sides.
 4. In a dentistry bite block as recited in claim 2, wherein alternate opposite angles formed at the junction of the sides are obtuse and acute.
 5. In a dentistry bite block as recited in claim 2, wherein opposite sides when extended form substantially the same angle.
 6. In a dentistry bite block as recited in claim 5, wherein the sides are undulated with the tangents thereto at opposite sides converging to form the angles of substantially the same degrees.
 7. In a dentistry bite block as recited in claim 6, wherein said undulations are of arcuate form struck from substantially the same radius. 